Second Suspect Sentenced in Infant Death at Child Care Facility in Rogersville

A second woman is now being sentenced for her role in the death of a child in a neglect or endangerment case.

Prosecutors say Danielle Gerdes entered an Alford Plea on Tuesday, July 9, to two counts of abuse or neglect of a child, and one count of endangering the welfare of a child.

Her mother, Cheri Beason, pleaded guilty to similar charges earlier this year and was sentenced to 120 days in jail and five years of supervised probation.

On August 10, 2017, the two were operating Books and Blocks Child Care when Beason left, leaving Gerdes alone with 25 children.

It was on that day that four-month-old Brynlee Jones died while at the daycare in Rogersville.

Gerdes was sentenced five your probation as part of the plea agreement.

Neither of the women will be permitted to operate a daycare in the future. If that agreement is broken, they could spend up to six years in prison.